The softer side of firm.

If necessity calls for a race-worthy saddle, but your body requires an anatomic cutout, Selle Italia's SLR Flow Saddle is worthy of your consideration. Starting with the classic mid-width SLR shape, the Flow receives an anatomic cutout and a hard-wearing leather cover. Essentially, Selle Italia created a perch that will keep you comfortable when you need the softer side of firm support.

If you're wondering where this saddle falls within the SLR family, it features the same 131mm width and 275mm length as the SLR Tekno. This makes it
an ideal match for those with average width sit bones. However, where the SLR Flow begins to differ is both obvious and not-so-obvious. Starting with the 'Flow' designation, you'll notice that this saddle has an amply sized cutout in order to relieve pressure on the perineal artery and adjacent soft tissue. As a result, that pressure is directed to your sit bones (ischial tuberosity), which are far more adept at supporting your body weight. Additionally, they're able to do so without causing numbness during long rides. This principle is further supported by the wide cut out, as it removes pressure from the pudendal nerve.
Essentially, this is a nerve that runs from around the third vertebrae, all the way down towards your foot. And when compressed at the perineum region, it is one of the major contributors to numbness. So, by relieving the very threat of pressure, your blood flow remains consistent, eliminating numbness. To put it into perspective, the cutout is slightly narrower than the one found on the SLR Super Flow, which provides more surface area to work with.

For further distinction, the SLR Flow differs from the rest of the SLR line through its degree of padding. It's a little thicker than say the Carbonio or Team Edition Flow, but nowhere near as dense as anything in the Flite or SLS families. And along with a modest amount of padding, the saddle has been wrapped with a hard-wearing and non-abrasive leather cover. Additionally, it features the same 70/30% nylon/carbon fiber shell composition that's found throughout the SLR line of saddles.

The SLR Flow is supported by Vanox rails. They're slightly heavier than the carbon fiber rails offered on the top tier SLR offerings, but they're light enough to keep the weight at a claimed 170 grams. And despite being so light, they're plenty strong enough for off-road use.

The Selle Italia SLR Flow Saddle is available in a 131x275mm size and in the colors Black and White.